TONGA - NEW ZEALAND 1950

HOW PARTICIPATION WITHIN
GROUPS INVOLVES BOTH RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS

Career of a Parliamentarian

My father Afeaki Pousima’s life spanned two world wars and saw the
massive changes that occurred after the Second World War in Tonga.

He was born in 1914 and was educated at a Catholic primary school run
by the Marist sisters in Nuku’alofa. They ran the best schools for
learning English. It was something outstanding in that day that his parents
sent him to school in Nuku’alofa.

He continued at Nuku’alofa’s Catholic secondary college, ‘Api
Fo’ou. He was the first Catholic to pass the public exam.

This qualified him for a job
in the civil service but he never in fact took up such a job.

In World War II he joined the army. He was not medically fit for a front
line job. As he spoke English as well as Tongan, could type and do shorthand,
he worked in army administration in Tonga, ending up as a sergeant.

After the war he studied law locally, set by the Supreme Court and the
Chief Justice, passed the exams and was licensed to practice as a local
lawyer.

He took up an interest in politics and soon entered Parliament. He had
about 20 years in Tonga’s Parliament.

He was man of strong conviction
who spoke out, even against government as was warranted. He was a great
supporter of the Monarchy which was in his view, good for Tonga. This
did not prevent him criticizing it, or praising it when he thought it
was doing the right thing.